Autism Answer: Where You Started I read a guest post by Sam Sykes, over on Chuck Wendigs blog, and it got me thinking. The post is largely about being embarrassed of our beginnings, being ashamed of where our passions and inspirations originated. In my parenting world, some of my inspiration came from Mary Poppins and the movie Annie. Yes, I believed that singing and spoonfuls of sugar and the sun coming out tomorrow was what it took to make a happy home. I did learn, Ill admit, there is a bit more to it than that!!!! But, those beginnings DID shape me. Those passions ARE part of my parenting style. And.... Im proud of them!! After, of course, years of being embarrassed by them. The post I read was specific to reading and writing. And--again--my beginnings are something Ive sometimes tried to hide. The author who most inspired me was V.C. Andrews. (Ouch! Admitting that hurt!) I read Flowers In The Attic at twelve years old and I was reborn. Parts of me felt feelings I didn’t know existed, and parts of me existed that I didn’t know could feel, and thoughts grew in my garden brain that felt as foreign as aliens or decaffeinated coffee. Who was this author? What was this power that could make me new? Make me more concrete and more malleable, all at once?? I devoured her books for an entire year, wrote her letters and held back tears when she didn’t write back words of surprised admiration for my insightful observations and flowing sentences. Then held back more tears when she didn’t even write back at all. Eventually I moved on, reading other more eclectic (and less obsessed with incest!) authors. And I was writing. From the moment I read V.C. Andrews, I was writing. I had to. So, yes, I’ve been known to throw away answers like “J.D. Salinger” and “John Steinbeck” or “Margaret Laurence” when asked about my beginning, my budding desires to write. Because, seriously…. V.C. Andrews??? Now when I write, I write what I love. I dive in and have so much mother loving fun that I can only imagine changing the world and waking up the feelings and parts of readers around the globe, to thundering appreciation and gifts of caffeinated shade grown organic fair trade coffee!! My writing isn’t like V.C. Andrews, but the feelings I get and the love I have for the story and tangled emotions my characters fall into are like what she gave me as a twelve year old girl falling in love with the process. What a foolish thing, to be embarrassed of that. Dont you think, friends? So dont be ashamed of your beginnings, in fact remember them proudly! Because it will help you encourage your own children and loved ones to discover passion where they need to. It will help you not judge or worry when you see your daughter moved to tears by an anime drawing you dont understand, or your son rummaging through the cupboards looking for toothpicks and duct tape to build a prop for a random funny video hes just GOT to put on YouTube. Our passions grow brighter and more beautiful when given sunlight and room to blossom. As the years pass feel free to toss fertilizer and nutrition at your loved ones, but avoid judgements regarding the items they choose to grow. Where you started was likely no more important or better. And where you started gave you exactly what you needed for where you are. Be proud and excited about that! Hugs, smiles, and love!!
Posted on: Thu, 30 Oct 2014 14:58:00 +0000
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